BREAKING: : Buhari Exempts Banks From 2-Week Lockdown

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja Financial institutions especially deposit money banks have been exempted from the two weeks lockdown imposed on Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states to prevent a further spread of the coronavirus in the country. President Muhammad Buhari had on a televised nationwide broadcast on Sunday night announced a two-week lock down in some parts of the country to contain the spread of the disease. A statement jointly signed by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, and made available to the media in Abuja on Monday said the President has approved some exemptions to the total lockdown. The statement reads:”Notice to Affected Stakeholders and General Public Regarding Covid-19 and Restrictions in Movement of Persons

“In light of the devastating effects of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) on many countries around the world, we applaud and appreciate the appropriate and proactive restrictions in personal and vehicular movement directed by President Muhammadu Buhari in his speech of Sunday 29 March 2020. “These restrictions are critical to significantly reduce the transmission rate of the disease and make it much easier for health professional to trace, test and isolate patients.“To ensure that Nigerians can still perform online transactions and use ATMs whilst observing these restrictions, we will like to inform the general public and all affected stakeholders that we have obtained exemptions from the President to allow very skeletal operations in the Financial System and Money Markets in order to keep the system in light operations during this time. “To this end, all relevant staff of affected outfits and agencies should look out for further instructions from their immediate bosses. “We are mindful of the difficulties these restrictions would bring on ordinary Nigerians and are grateful to the President for approving these exemptions, which should help ease some of these burdens. We urge all Nigerians to be patient, cooperative and united as all hands are on deck to defeat this virus”.